Almost a decade and a half after low-cost airlines changed the face of flying for Indians in major cities, the government’s connectivity scheme—Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)—could ensure that many more people take flights from small towns. According to IATA, India is the fastest growing aviation market in the world. During 2015, 81 million Indians flew, which was an 18.8% growth over the previous year. At this rate, India, currently the ninth largest aviation market at $ 16 billion, will be the world’s third largest after the US and China in 2020. The growth is driven by rising incomes along with lower fuel prices, increased competition among private airlines and expanding airports.
